A Cold Blast From the Past

While reading a post in one of my yahoo groups, I was reminded of a winter experience. I had spent the week in the UP [Upper Peninsula of Michigan; definitely snow country] with a school-affiliated work trip [I'll have to blog about this trip sometime, definitely a cool experience]. Since we had worked all week [during "spring" break in March with many feet of snow still on the ground], we got to spend late Friday afternoon through Saturday at a 'resort' sort of place, owned by Domino's Pizza founder Tom Monahan, on small Drummond Island .

After dinner, we were out toboganning, playing on the ice rink, etc before heading out to the outdoor hot tub to relax. Someone had mentioned how some people, in other northern winter climates, sit in hot tubs or saunas for awhile before making a dive into the snow. Of course, someone dared us to do likewise. So of course, I took the bait [and have a photo to prove it]. Of course, I didn't stay in the snow bank for long but I remember the 'tingling' sensation after climbing back into the tub. It was definitely something that everyone should try at least once. :-) Just don't go daring me to go polar swimming; that is one dare that I will definitely pass on.

I recall another hot tubbing evening... It was later in the evening on New Year's Eve. There were maybe 6-7 of us sitting in the outdoor tub [with our drinks], watching the steam rising into the dark sky while the big wet snowflakes were drifting down. I guess I do have some fond cold winter memories. :-)

The Approaching Winter

It snowed today. Not enough to stick to the ground, but it did snow those gentle falling flakes. It actually looked pretty; with the gray clouds enclosing the neighborhood, it looked like one of those snow-globes.

I don't mind the snow for the first part of the season-through the holidays and even a bit into January. Though, growing up in Michigan, my childhood memories were of snow from November through March or so, and lots of it. Our house backed up to a golf course-so we had a huge winter playground for playing, sledding, throwing snowballs etc with our friends. Later, we got into cross country skiing, too. Back then, the cold didn't seem to phase us all that much [only when walking to and from school!], so I did enjoy the winter months back then.

But as an adult it just isn't the same. Having to dig the car out from the snow, scraping off the ice, having to drive to work in the stuff, and later in the winter, the brown trees/landscape, dirty snow, endless cloudy skies, it's a lot of work. Not to mention having to clear off the driveways and sidewalks, bundling up in heavy coats, and having to dig around for hats, scarves, and gloves. Maybe I wouldn't mind it quite so much if it *wasn't* so COLD all the time. I don't like the cold at all, especially with the long months of winter here in Michigan. Maybe I should feel lucky that I don't live in Canada or Alaska.

This dislike of the winter became much more pronounced during the years I lived in North Carolina. We did have winter down there with occasional snow or ice, but it was still much milder and it was a much shorter season. So while living there, I could better appreciate the beauty that snow can provide but not have it last so long.

I'm back in Michigan now. For the time being, I CAN enjoy the yearly novelty of the snow and cold. But I'm also dreaming about being in the tropical south, with the temperatures much more moderate, having blue skies, greenery year-round, living on the ocean with the sand, the crashing of the waves, salt in the air, listening to the sea gulls, searching for sea shells, and wondering what a tropical Christmas would be like. So far, it's only in my imagination, but I really hope that this dream can and will come true someday. So, Santa, this is what I'd like for Christmas, some time in the near future, ok?